Amherst Survival Center, North Congregational Church, team up to offer cooking classes

AMHERST – Anyone who cooks and wants to pick up a few new tricks or those who have never cooked have an opportunity later this month in a class called “Good Eats Cooking Classes: By the People, For the People,” a joint venture between the Amherst Survival Center and the North Congregational Church.

The idea grew from a program funded by the Women’s Fund of Western Massachusetts in which four area churches and the survival center began working together to build relationships between the faith communities and the center, explained Barbara Jenkins, of the church. That was called Women Building Bridges for Economic Development and Justice and was run through an organization called Class Action

From that, Jenkins said, church members and survival center consumers informally began cooking and eating together monthly at the church. Seeing the value of those meals, the church and center decided to then offer the more formal cooking class series.

Cheryl C. Zoll “I’m very excited about it,” she said. Area chefs have been volunteering to teach a class.

Classes will be held beginning May 25 and run every other Tuesday through July 20. The cost is $20 for the five classes, but scholarships are available and child care will be provided, she said.

“It’s great for us,” said Cheryl C. Zoll, the survival center executive director. “It’s a way for working with the church that’s our neighbor.” The church is across the street from the center in North Amherst. “It fulfills the spirit of the grant for people to be working together across class lines.”

The cooking classes will provides some skills but “there’s a social aspect,” Zoll said. Those participating get the chance to talk to people they might not get the chance to talk to. While initially only women were involved the classes are open to men as well, she said.

Jenkins said participants will be able to learn about nutrition and healthy eating “and good buying when going to the grocery store.”

If you go

Event: “Good Eats Cooking Classes: By the People, For the People,” When: May 25, then every other Tuesday through July 20, 6- 8 p.m. Where: North Congregational Church parish hall kitchen, 1195 North Pleasant St., Amherst Cost: $20, five classes; scholarships available For more information: Advance registration by May 19, call the church office, (413) 549-0500